Salvation Army provides relief to community affected by flooding

Volunteers for the Salvation Army got their first glimpse of what is left of the small community of Kendricktown after treacherous floodwaters engulfed the area.

David Hoover

Volunteers for the Salvation Army got their first glimpse of what is left of the small community of Kendricktown after treacherous floodwaters engulfed the area.

Joanna Schultz, volunteer translator, was shocked with the site Friday when the Salvation Army delivered supplies and water.

“I think it’s very sad, but I’m very grateful that there are places like the Salvation Army that are there to help,” Schultz said.

“I’m glad I volunteered. It feels good to be out here helping out.”

Schultz was on hand to communicate with the Spanish-speaking residents and let them know the Salvation Army was handing out cleaning supplies and water, as well as offering phone numbers to contact for clothes, furniture and other items they may be need.

Capt. Rich McDonald, director/pastor with the Salvation Army, said on the morning of the flooding, the fire department contacted the Salvation Army to let them know Kendricktown was flooded and to prepare to open the shelter.

“They called back later and said no one up here wants to go to the shelter,” McDonald said.

McDonald said he wasn’t sure if residents were concerned about people robbing items, but that may be why nobody went to the shelter.

“As soon as we saw that the water was going down and people were out in front of their houses, I talked to headquarters and they said kits were on the way,” he said.

The kits the Salvation Army handed out contained brooms, a squeegee, cleaning chemicals, sponges, and a container that be used as a bucket.

Along with the kits, water was handed out in abundance due to residents not being able to drink from their wells.